Saturday, October 18, 2008
Flu Plateau
Movement for 10/18/08:
- She's actually performed normally, today, including an "exercise session" during the first half of her day, but her nose has been running like gangbusters, which has been bothering her, and, although her spirit is valiant, her legs are a bit on the iffy side. On her way into the bedroom from the bathroom for her nap she mentioned that her legs felt "shaky".
"That's because you're walking and standing with your knees bent, Mom. That puts a lot of stress on the muscles. Straighten up."
"I did." This is true. Any time she walks, I have her stop and tell her to straighten up three or four times a session. It was no different today.
"Well, try it again. There. Better?"
"If you say so," in her ironic tone.
We'll see how she does after her nap. - She did well this evening, using the wheelchair only between the rocker and the foyer steps. She had a bit of difficulty rising on her way to bed, which was funny, really, considering that she was conflicted about heading for bed. She was clearly tired but she was also locked into a History Channel special about the significance of Star Trek in regard to technological change since the original series aired. Bed won out.
Wheeling on the Plateau
Movement for 10/17/08:
- Maybe it was the flu shot she received today...or maybe it was the reverse placebo effect of the flu shot: My mother expects for react to flu shots, so she does. At any rate, after breakfast, when we moved into the living room, she was noticeably shaky and feeling unsure of herself on her feet, although she walked and walkered to the rocker as usual. After her nap, though, she just didn't feel up to walking and grasped the possibility of using the wheel chair with gusto. I was fine with that, especially since she'd had a four hour nap, which is unusual for her. We ended the "day" wheeling her into the bathroom and bedroom, even though, when it was time for bed, she insisted that she could "take the steps". Once she got to the steps, though, they looked daunting, so I quickly whipped out the ramp and away we wheeled. She was clearly very tired by the time she made it to the bed.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Short Plateau
Movement for 10/16/08:
- I had a hell of a time getting Mom up. I started at 1300, thinking maybe I could "trick" her into awakening an hour before her 12 hour sleep mark (actually, an hour and 15 minutes). I'm not sure she even heard me try. So I gave up and tried again at 1415. That was a bust, as well, although she did rouse, but only enough to tell me to "come back later". I came back at 1500. I thought it was going to turn into another champion sleep day, but I was wrong. She was ready to arise at 1500. Movement-wise, we were back at the plateau, although she complained of overall stiffness (I wonder why?!?!). She agreed to take a 325 mg acetaminophen at breakfast, but I forgot it. When I remembered, after breakfast, she no longer ached or was stiff, so we tabled it. She's down for her nap, now, and, so far, the day has gone as usual during this plateau: One exercise session and only one wheeling, from the rocker to the foyer steps. Otherwise, she's stepping smartly.
- The day continued as a usual plateau day.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Flying Low
Movement for 10/15/08:
- We're both flying low today; I'm flying a bit lower than Mom. She's having trouble catching her breath, partly, I'm sure, because her nose is stuffy, although there may be other reasons, as well. The plateau she established has lowered, a little. Although her spirit told her that she could walk into the bathroom from the foyer steps for pre-nap preparations, she was much too winded and discovered this when she transferred from her rocker to the wheelchair to be wheeled to the steps. After the short wheeling she hadn't completely caught her breath and decided, no, let's ramp it up instead of walking. That was fine with me. She was more than ready for a nap, but got caught up in the beginning of the debate and found it hard to let go until I assured her, three times, that we were recording it.
I'm going to let her go until 2100 as far as her nap is concerned. I'm hoping she'll revive a bit. - Although Mom's evening started out typically, by the time bedtime rolled around she had trouble standing so I could pull her slacks over her ass for her leg rub down...she almost sat back on my hands. She decided to use the wheelchair all the way to bed. That was fine. I'm not sure why today has been like it has, but I'm not sure it's important to know why, either.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tired But Moving
Movement for 10/14/08:
- So far so good...same as always. One extra: The nurse decided to weigh her today. She stepped up on and down off the scale easily with the help of the walker and the nurse and me, which surprised me. She had some difficulty, last time. Her heels still lag over the back by about 3/4", but the nurse has established a "standard" with this stand, so I don't think this will be a problem measuring her weight.
- Evening proceeded exactly the way the last several evenings have. One thing I should mention: Mom's feet swelling is almost nil, now. The Hospice RN and I figure the ankle rocking exercise has probably helped that condition a lot, even though Mom is only doing the exercises twice a day.
Steady As She Goes
Movement for 10/13/08:
- Pretty much the same as has been established recently. The only change is that her ability to rise from a sitting position actually improved suddenly during the evening when I got mad at her for not taking the "nose to toes" position when rising and she did.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Remaining on the Plateau
Movement for 10/12/08:
- Exactly the same as it has been for some time: walking to and from the bathroom and around the house, using the walker from the dinette steps to the rocker, using the wheelchair from the rocker to the foyer steps, standing to brush teeth. Again, got in only two PT sessions. She is significantly lackadaisical about the leg raises, but does everything else fine. I suggested a third session before I rubbed down her legs. "I don't think it's necessary," she said. I'm grinning as I type this. If she doesn't feel it's necessary, it's not.
